Koike Yuriko became Tokyo’s first female governor in 2016 and was re-elected to a second term in 2020. As governor, Ms. Koike is proactively advancing numerous initiatives, including those focused on empowering women in society and eliminating child-care waitlists to create a work-friendly environment for women. 

Ms. Koike was elected to the House of Councillors in 1992 and to the House of Representatives in 1993, where she served for a total of eight terms. She held several cabinet posts, including Minister of the Environment and Minister of Defense. As Environment Minister, Ms. Koike introduced the Cool Biz campaign to encourage workers to wear light and comfortable attire during the summer months. 

Before entering national politics, she worked as a newscaster covering economic issues. Ms. Koike graduated from Cairo University, Egypt.